South Carolina Sports
The South Carolina Gamecocks represent the University of South Carolina (USC) in Columbia, South Carolina, and compete in the Southeastern Conference (SEC), one of the most competitive athletic conferences in the NCAA Division I. The Gamecocks have a rich history in both men’s and women’s sports, with passionate fan support and strong traditions.
Football
All Articles Written by: Vickie Mathis
South Carolina set the tone immediately after electing to receive the opening kickoff. On the first play from scrimmage, L. Sellers connected with J. Sellers for a 75-yard touchdown, giving the Gamecocks an electric 7–0 start. Following a Coastal Carolina punt, South Carolina marched 74 yards in six plays, capping the drive with another touchdown. The two-point attempt was unsuccessful, but the Gamecocks extended their lead to 13–0 with nine minutes remaining in the first quarter.
No. 3 Texas A&M pulled off the largest comeback the program has ever recorded, edging South Carolina 31–30 on Saturday in College Station. Quarterback Marcel Reed delivered a career performance, throwing for 439 yards and three touchdowns as the Aggies erased a 27-point halftime deficit to stay unbeaten.
South Carolina fell 30-14 to seventh-ranked Ole Miss (8-1, 5-1 SEC), once again undone by the same issues that have plagued the team all year. Head coach Shane Beamer said afterward, “The plays are there — we just have to make them.” The Gamecocks’ offense continued to struggle, looking sluggish and inconsistent throughout the game. Questionable play-calling and poor execution made it difficult to find any rhythm, raising more uncertainty about the future of offensive coordinator Mike Shula. At 3-6 overall and 1-6 in SEC play, South Carolina’s offensive inefficiency has been a recurring theme — and that includes the quarterback position. LaNorris Sellers, once viewed as a breakout star and potential NFL first-rounder entering the season, had another rough outing. Known for his mobility and ability to extend plays, Sellers too often seemed hesitant in the pocket, even when given ample time by his offensive line. The Gamecocks simply couldn’t convert opportunities into points, a familiar story in what’s been a frustrating season in Columbia.
Fourth-ranked Alabama pulled off a last-minute victory over South Carolina, leaving thousands of Gamecock fans stunned at the edge of the end zone in a dramatic 29-22 road win on Saturday. Germie Bernard’s 25-yard touchdown run with just 34 seconds remaining sealed Alabama’s seventh consecutive win and extended their SEC record to 5-0, following four straight victories over ranked opponents. The Crimson Tide had spent much of the second half trailing before tying the game with 2:16 left. Ty Simpson’s two-point pass to Josh Cuevas came right after Bernard’s scoring reception, leveling the score at 22. On South Carolina’s ensuing drive, Alabama linebacker Deontae Lawson forced a fumble from quarterback LaNorris Sellers as he was tackled by nose guard Tim Keenan at the 38-yard line with 1:39 remaining. Sellers had attempted a quarterback draw up the middle, but Alabama’s defense overpowered him, resulting in a turnover that was confirmed after review — a critical play and perhaps the most significant takeaway of the Kalen DeBoer era at Alabama. “They’re going to keep fighting as long as they stay in that mindset … we perform in the critical moments,” DeBoer told broadcasters after the game. “I’m proud of Deontae, I’m proud of Tim … they’re the heart of this team, captains who’ve been here forever. And I’m proud of our coaching staff for keeping them on the right path.”
LSU football returned to action on Saturday night, hosting South Carolina for a Week 7 game in Tiger Stadium. LSU came away with a 20-10 win, getting back in the win column after the 24-19 loss to Ole Miss in Week 5. South Carolina went under center on its first offensive play, and a failed snap exchange led to an LSU fumble recovery. LSU’s offense took over in the red zone and didn’t move the ball, but LSU took a 3-0 with a field goal. South Carolina responded and took a 7-3 lead when Gamecock RB Matt Fuller broke free for a 72-yard touchdown run. South Carolina’s lead didn’t last long. Later in the first quarter, LSU ripped off a six-play, 57-yard touchdown drive, capped by a Trey’Dez Green touchdown.
Men and Women's Basketball
All Articles Written by: Vickie Mathis
Women's Basketball
South Carolina women’s basketball dropped its first game of the season in a tight matchup against No. 4 Texas. The opening quarter featured plenty of offense, with Texas shooting nearly 60% and jumping ahead 23–19. South Carolina, meanwhile, struggled to find consistent rhythm, hitting just over a third of its attempts. The Gamecocks’ shooting dipped even further in the second quarter, falling to just above 31%, but Texas couldn’t capitalize — the Longhorns went cold as well, connecting on only one field goal in the entire period. Texas briefly stretched its lead to eight early in the quarter, but South Carolina chipped away and narrowed the gap to four by halftime. In a low-scoring second frame, both teams managed just 10 points, sending the Longhorns into the locker room up 33–29.
LAS VEGAS — Jordan Lee poured in 19 points, and Rori Harmon delivered a 10-foot runner with one second remaining to push No. 4 Texas past No. 2 South Carolina, 66–64, in Thursday’s championship game at the Players Era event. Harmon had been quiet offensively most of the night—just four points—until she broke free on the left side of the lane and knocked down the decisive shot. She also handed out nine assists, moving into first place on Texas’ all-time assists list, and was named the tournament’s MVP. Texas coach Vic Schaefer praised his veteran guard, saying that when the game is on the line, the team trusts Harmon to take the final attempt. The Longhorns (7–0) overcame an early third-quarter slip in which a six-point advantage turned into an eight-point deficit. They surged back with a 24–14 closing stretch to reclaim control. Madison Booker nearly posted a double-double with 16 points and nine rebounds, while Justice Carlton added 13 points and eight boards. South Carolina (7–1) had four players reach double figures. Ta’Niya Latson and Joyce Edwards each scored 16, Tessa Johnson contributed 13, and Madina Okot recorded her sixth double-double of the year—12 points and 11 rebounds—before fouling out. The loss marked the Gamecocks’ first setback since falling to UConn in April’s national title game.
The No. 2 Gamecocks (4–0) claimed the first-ever “Real SC” title, defeating the eighth-ranked Trojans (2–1) 69–52 in the opening game of a two-match series the teams will play in the coming years.
🏀 South Carolina Women's Basketball Dominates Clemson South Carolina's Women's Basketball team, ranked No. 2 nationally with a (3-0) record, secured a decisive victory over the Clemson Tigers (2-1) on Tuesday, extending their remarkable winning streak against their in-state rival to 15 consecutive games. The final score was South Carolina Gamecocks 65, Clemson Tigers 37. With this win, the Gamecocks now lead the all-time series against Clemson 37-33. Under the leadership of head coach Dawn Staley, South Carolina has been nearly flawless against the Tigers, holding a 15-2 record in their matchups. Clemson's head coach, Shawn Poppie, acknowledged the superior program built by Staley, stating, "When I signed up for this job, I knew the powerhouse right up the road here with what Dawn’s built... That’s what the standard is in our sport and has been for a little while. It’s our goal and our dream to be matching that. What a game that would be when we get to where we can come in here and compete every single year.”
Gamecocks Dominate Early: 114-47 Win Highlights Edwards, Johnson, and Okot. Sophomore forward Joyce Edwards led the way with 24 points on 11-of-12 shooting as No. 2 South Carolina cruised to a 114-47 victory over Bowling Green on Nov. 7. The Gamecocks once again controlled the game at home to open the season, with coach Dawn Staley seeing seven of her nine players reach double-digit scoring. Raven Johnson and Madina Okot each recorded double-doubles. Johnson contributed 11 points and 11 assists, while Okot added 13 points, 11 rebounds, and four blocks. South Carolina’s 3-point accuracy was down from their season opener, but the team excelled inside the paint, racking up 66 points in the lane.
Latson Impresses in South Carolina Debut as Gamecocks Cruise Past Grand Canyon. Ta’Niya Latson scored 20 points in her first game with South Carolina, leading the No. 2 Gamecocks to a decisive 94-54 victory over Grand Canyon on Monday night. The win extended coach Dawn Staley’s streak of season-opening victories to 15 straight years. Latson, who led the nation in scoring at Florida State last season, wasted no time making an impact, scoring the opening basket and following with a quick layup to help South Carolina jump out to a 7-0 lead. The Gamecocks reached double-digit advantage in under five minutes and had built a commanding 60-31 lead by halftime. South Carolina continued to dominate in the second half as Staley rotated her 10-player roster, which includes four newcomers, giving the team a strong start to the season.
Men's Basketball
BATON ROUGE, La. — LSU fell to South Carolina 78–68 on Tuesday night at the PMAC. The Tigers dropped to 12–3 on the season as South Carolina improved to 10–5. LSU struggled in the first half, shooting 28.6 percent from the field, while the Gamecocks knocked down 10 three-pointers to take a 50–25 lead into halftime. LSU outscored South Carolina 43–28 after the break and opened the half on a 10–2 run, but the early deficit proved too large to overcome. Max Mackinnon led the Tigers with 15 points, while Pablo Tamba and PJ Carter added 10 apiece. Elijah Strong scored a game-high 30 points for South Carolina.
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Virginia Tech escaped with an 86–83 overtime win against South Carolina on Tuesday, powered by a dominant performance from Amari Hansberry. The forward poured in 22 points and pulled down 14 rebounds, recording his fourth double-double of the season. Ben Hammond added 16 points, including a go-ahead layup with just 13 seconds left in overtime, as the Hokies outlasted the Gamecocks in a thrilling back-and-forth finale. The extra period featured nine lead changes and five ties before Virginia Tech finally took control. The Hokies jumped out to an early lead with an 8–1 run and carried a 37–34 advantage into halftime. South Carolina answered late in the second half, going on a 7–0 run capped by five straight points from Mike Sharavjamts to force the game into overtime at 70-all. But Virginia Tech’s late heroics proved decisive in preserving their 7–2 record.
South Carolina Rolls to 87–58 Victory Behind Strong Bench Play COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina stayed unbeaten on Tuesday night, pulling away from Radford 87–58 thanks to a major lift from its reserves. Elijah Strong poured in 15 points on efficient shooting, while Eli Ellis added 14 off the bench, hitting five of his eight attempts and going perfect at the foul line. Mike Sharavjamts contributed a double-double with 12 points and 10 boards. The Gamecocks (4–0) have now opened the season with four straight outings of 81-plus points, and remain unbeaten under head coach Lamont Paris whenever they reach the 80-point mark. South Carolina jumped out to a quick 7–0 lead and never trailed. Radford briefly countered with a 7–0 push of its own, but an 8–0 surge later in the half helped the Gamecocks take control with a 40–25 advantage at the break. The Highlanders never got within single digits again. Del Jones led Radford (2–4) with 16 points, and Dennis Parker Jr. added 10, but the Highlanders struggled from the field, shooting just 31% overall and 29% from deep.
South Carolina moved to 3–0 on Wednesday, boosted by a strong performance from its trio of first-year players coming off the bench.With Lamont Paris on the sideline, South Carolina is now 15–0 in games where it reaches the 80-point mark. Across Paris’ nine seasons as a head coach, his teams have gone 47–4—winning over 92% of the time—whenever they top 80 points
Gamecocks Rally Late, Edge Southern Miss in Overtime South Carolina fought back from a late deficit and held on to defeat Southern Miss 83-79 in overtime on Sunday at Colonial Life Arena. The Gamecocks were staring at their first loss of the season, but a clutch performance from Meechie Johnson helped turn the tide. With just under four minutes remaining, South Carolina trailed by 11 points. Johnson sparked the comeback, scoring 14 of the team’s next 16 points, including two long-range three-pointers, to force extra time. The Gamecocks carried that momentum into overtime and ultimately pulled out a hard-fought victory over the Golden Eagles.
South Carolina Hits 14 Three-Pointers in 91-72 Season-Opening Win Over North Carolina A&T South Carolina opened its season on a high note Tuesday night at Colonial Life Arena, cruising past North Carolina A&T 91-72 behind a flurry of three-point shooting. The Gamecocks made 49% of their field-goal attempts and hit 14 of 32 shots from beyond the arc (44%), while distributing 23 assists on 31 made baskets. Five South Carolina players reached double digits in scoring. Meechie Johnson led the way with 14 points in his return to the lineup, adding five rebounds and four assists. Nordin Kapic contributed 13 points and five boards, Kobe Knox had 12 points, while Eli Ellis and Elijah Strong each scored 11. Ellis also recorded five assists in his first official collegiate game.